Hat trick for Noma, the world's best restaurant

Denmark's Noma restaurant has been named the best in the world for a third year running in an international survey that also gave top rankings to establishments in Spain, Brazil and Italy.

The Copenhagen restaurant, serving Nordic specialities in a quayside warehouse, topped the World's 50 Best Restaurants list compiled for a 10th year by more than 800 international experts for Britain's Restaurant magazine.

Two Dubai restaurants joined the list, with Zuma (no 83) and La Petite Maison (no 96), both at DIFC, making the list for the first time.

New Nordic movement

The magazine called Noma's chef Rene Redzepi "the standard bearer for the New Nordic movement", citing his attention to detail and innovative approach.

He also won respect for his use of local and seasonal ingredients foraged from the seashore or the forest. "We are a temple of deliciousness," Redzepi said after picking up his award.

'Deliciousness'

"We want to create deliciousness and we want to give people three, four or five hours where they come out of reality and become happier," he added.

Noma seized the top spot in 2010 from Spain's elBulli, which has since closed. But Spanish restaurants held onto the second and third spots on the global dining list this year.

El Celler de Can Roca in Girona, run by three brothers and known for its dishes based on perfumes, came in second, while third place — plus the Chefs' Choice award — went again to Mugaritz in San Sebastian, despite a devastating fire two years ago.

Brazil's D.O.M., run by former DJ Alex Atala, made fourth place — up from seventh — after achieving growing popularity with its fresh, confident use of Brazilian ingredients such as acai and the fruit of the pupunha palm. Britain's Heston Blumenthal pulled off a double entry, with his new restaurant Dinner going straight in at ninth place while existing venue The Fat Duck came 13th.